Tool rack



Ap i .J. E. PATTERSON TOOL RACK Filed Jan. 26, 1950 Inventor A Home y 'ible for inspection or selection.

Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED; STATES P AT EN T" OF F'IC JAMES E. PATTERSON, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF 'lOv PHILIP J. G-ARNETT, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON TOOL RACK Application filed January 20, 1930.

My present invention relates to improve ments in tool racks of the rotary-type, and designed especially for use in machine shops, automobile repair shops, and other places where hand tools are required for frequent use by mechanics and others. The primary object of my invention. is to provide a rack or" this character that is compactly arranged, is simple in construction, and comparatively inexpensive in cost of manufacture. In carrying out my invention- I provide means whereby the tools, singly and in sets, may be collected and stored in positions where they are readily accessible when required for use, and an open-work or reticulated device is employed for the tools whereby they are readily. vis- The openwork or reticulated material employed in the construction of the tool rack also enables an attendant in the shop to clean or wash not only the entirerack, but also the tools that are supported or suspended in the rack, by spraying with water, gasoline, or other detergent that. will remove the grit, grease and dirt from the metal parts. I

In the physical embodiment of my invention I employ a rotary frame and inner reticulated wall or walls with tool-supports thereon, together with an outer enclosin reticulated rack comprising a' plurality or hinged doors adapted to swing open from one side of the enclosure to close an adjoining side of the enclosure.

The hinged doors, of reticulated material, are provided on their inner sides with toolsupports, and the doors may be locked in closed position, when desired, to prevent access to the tools not only supported at the inner sides of the doors, but also those supported on the enclosed, reticulated, inner rack.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts for attaining these above mentioned objects and results, as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the phy- Serial No. 421,916.

sical embodiment of my invention.wherein the parts are combined andarranged according to one mode I have so fardevised for the practical application otthe principles of my invention.

In the tool rack herein exemplified Ihave and other changes may be made within the scope of my claim without departingfrom,

the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 1s a viewm elevation of a .tool

rack embodying my invention, one ofthe side doors being, shown in open orreversed pos tion to expose the tools supported at its inner side.

Figure 2 is atop plan view of the device with allot the doors swung to opener re-. versed position to expose the tools supported on their work faces, or sides.

F1gure3 is an enlar ed detail perspective view showing in section a portion of a reticulated rack-panel with a tool support secured thereon. l Figured is a faceview of the parts shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged top planviewat one corner of therack, showingthe free edge o t one door and the hinged door on an ad Ommg face, both doors beingclosed.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the device showing the four doors, swung outwardly away from the device and in various, positions, the dotted lines and arrows indicating the range of movement of the hinged doors.

The appliance is portable and provided witha base 1 supported on casterwheels2, and above the base a tubular pedestal or standard 3 of suitable height, is provided for the reception of a verticalpost 4, and the latter is journaled in suitable manner, to turn on the tubular pedestal.

On the post are fixed an upper and a lower spider-frame 5 and these upper. and lower SPICIGI'IIJ'HHIQS are each provided with a rigid, rectangular frame 6. disposed horizontally and these frame members are joined to form a rotary frame that is rigid with the rotary postand supported thereby. At the top and bottom portions of the rotary frame are provided reticulated panels 7 that prevent access to the interior of the device, the panels being fashioned from wire net of suitable mesh, for the purpose.-

The rotary frame carries four frames 8 of reticulated material, and these frames as seen in Figure 2 and arranged in vertical planes in the form of a square about the center post.

The four frames, or nick-frames S are rigidly joined to the rotary frame, and rotate therewith when. the rotary frame is turned by hand, and upon the outer or exterior faces of the reticulated rack-frames 8 the tool supports may be fixed, as will be described.

The four rack frames are spaced equidistant from the center post i that extends upwardly through the IOtzil) frame, and, four doors are spaced equidistant from and parallel with the four rack fral'nes, to enclose the spaces exterior of these rack frames. In the spaces between the rackframes and the doors are contained the tools and their supporting devices, when the doors are closed, and the doors are of the proper size and shape to be swung into and occupy an adjoining space for the purpose of exposing the tools supported on the doors.

The doors comprise rectangular frames 9 and reticulated panels 10, the latter made up of wire net of the proper size and mesh for the purpose, and the doors are hinged at top and bottom corners with hinge-pins 11 journaled in hinge plates 12 secured to the top and bottom horizontal frames of the rotary frame.

Each door may be provided with a latch 13 and keeper 14, located at its under edge or bottom, and a padlock, or padlocks, may he used to lock the doors to prevent access to the tools when desired.

The inner rack frames, andv the panels of the doors, are used for supporting the toolsupporting devices, and these devices may be arranged in suitable or desired manner for the purpose of supporting or suspending the tools singly or in sets, as shown in Figure 1 where sets of wrenches, screw drivers, and files are arranged on the door panel.

The tool-supports are preferably hooks 15 fashioned of bent wire, with a loop 16 passing around strands of the wire-mesh, and clamp plates 17 with their ends bent around the wires of the mesh, are provided with slitt-ed tongues 18 for anchoring the tool support against displacement.

The tool supports may be arranged in pairs or singly as indicated, and they are attached at what I term the inner side of each door. that is, the side of the door that is turned inwardly when the door ciosed against access to the tools.

The tool rack of my invention as thus constructed is extremely convenient for use, as it may be trundlcd on its casters from place to place in the shop, and the tools contained within the racks may be inspected by turning the rotary frame to bring the rackframes and panels successively into view. Access to a tool, or to a set of tools, may be had by opening the desired door; or if desired, all of the doors may be swung from closed position, through an arc of 270, parallel with an adjoining rack frame, to expose the toolside of the panel, as indicated in Figure 2. The doors may remain in this position during working hours, and then they may be closed and locked at the end of the day to insure protection of the propcity.

A place is thus provided for a predetermined number of tools and they may be kept in orderly arrangement and be readily accessible for use to prevent waste of time in hunting for a tool.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a tool rack, the combination of a tuhir lar pedestal, a post rotatable in the pedestal, spaced spider frames on the post, a plurality of reticulated rack frames held between the spider frames and tool supports on the exterior faces of said rack frames, a plurality of solid doors forming closures against access to the rack frames, said doors having hinges supported between the spaced spider frames at the corners of the rack, and tool supports attached to the inner faces of said doors.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAlSlES E. PATTERSON. 

